Vacuum closing machine



Jan. 19, 1932. J, AGR'AY 1,841,590

VACUUM CLOSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1932.

JIA. GRAY VACUUM CLOS ING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23. 1929 T0 VACUUM PU M F 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /Z& I

llll Ill I v I 776 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1932.

J. A. GRAY. 1,841,590

VACUUM CLOSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES A. GRAY, OF SAN FRANEIISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAN COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY VACUUM CLOSING MACHINE Application filed.- January as, 1529. Serial No. 334,494.

This invention relates to an apparatus for sealing or closing containers underwacuum. important object of the invention is the provision of such a device having a vacuum sealing chamber and a conveying mechanism comprising a turret formed with an un "broken peripheral edge and having can-re-' ceiving pockets extending between opposite faces thereof so that' a pocket is eas1ly sealed with the vacuum chamber. Another important object of the inventlon is the provision of a seaming mechanism in connection with a relatively thin turret conveying member which is particularly adapt-- ed for operation with a relatively short height of can and one in which no compli cated pocket forming or closing mechanism is required.

A further object of the invention is the provision of simple apparatus which will insure the positive closing of the vacuum sealing chamber in cooperation with the conveyi stantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View, taken substantially along line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken substantially along line 1-4; of Fig. 2, parts being omitted. a Cans with covers loosely" applied are brought into the apparatus of the present invention on a constantly moving conveyor belt which places them in position where feeding devices operate to slide each can individually from the belt through a passageway formed in a' table and onto a can feed lifting device.

This device raises the can through an opening formed in he table and into a pocket of a turret moii ted upon the table.

The turret is rotated by a step by' step movement, it being at its rest period during insertion of the-can within the turret pocket. The turret moves the can through two idle stations and finally brings it to rest on a can lifting device positioned directly beneath and in axial alignment with a chuck of a can seaming mechanism operating within a casing enclosing a vacuum chamber, there being .an opening in the casing beneath the chuck. While the turret is at rest, the can lifting device raises the can from the turret pocket through the opening in the casing and clamps itand its cover against the chuck of the seaming mechanism. The entire casing during this raising of the can movesdownwardly and a gasket member carried thereby comes into engagement adjacent the turret pocket with the upper surface of the turret, clamping the casing and the turret together in an hermetically sealed joint. A second and smaller casing enclosing a secondary vacuum chamber is raised at the same time. This smaller casing surrounds a part ofthe can lifting device and carries a gasket member which is brought into engagement with the lower surface of the turret adjacent the turret pocket and clamps the casing-and the turret ogether in an hermetically sealed joint.

When the parts are in clamped position, there is thus formed a unit air sealed chamber in which the can, cover and seaming mechanism are located, and thls chamber comprises the intercommunicating primary vacuum chamber, the turret pocket and the secondary vacuum chamber. Air is withdrawn from the chamber and the cover and can are thereupon united in a usual or pre-v ferred manner. The vacuum'within the chamher is then broken, this being done in any usual manner, and the casings are separated, whereupon the turret is unclamped and the seamed can is lowered and again positioned in the turret pocket. With the next movement in the step rotation of the turret, the seamed can is swept from the can lifting device and brought in register with a discharge opening through which it falls onto a continuously moving discharge belt which removes it from the machine.

/ machine.

The construction of the parts is greatly simplified in the present invention by reason of themanner of introducing a can into or removing it from a turret pocket, this being along lines parallel to the axis of rotation of the turret. The turret is therefore of simpler and more solid construction than is usually possible in vacuum closing machines and as a result is readily adaptable for use with cans of extremely short body height as well as for more usual and regular shapes. The socalled flat or squat can, such-as, for example, the drawn oval or oblong fish can, is readily vacuumized and sealed in the disclosed apparatus. This type of can usually requires a special and relatively complicated The drawings disclose such an oval flat can.

The driving parts of the apparatus are enclosed in a casing 21 mounted on a base 22,

thecasing being closed at its upper end by a table member 23. As disclosed in Fig. 4, there is provided a horizontal drive shaft 24 journalled in a bearing 25 formed in the wall of casing 21 and in a bearing 26 formed onlia. bracket 27 projected from the casing wa The drive shaft is rotated in usual or preferred manner from an outside source of power applied to the belt pulley 28 mounted thereon. Bevel gear 29 is carried on the inner extremity of drive shaft 24 and meshes with a bevel gear 31 keyed to a vertical shaft 32 mounted in a tubular column 33 carried by the base 22, the column being formed integrally with a support'housing 34 carried by the base 22. The upper end of shaft 32 is journalledin a bearing 35 carried by a column 36 mounted upon and secured to table 23. An intermediate bearing 37 is also provided for the shaft 32, being formed on the end of a bracket 38 projected from the casing 21. A thrust bearing 39 is positioned at the lower end of shaft 32 and within the upper end of the tubular column 33 and this bearing carries some of the weight of the vertical shaft.

The drive shaft also carries a worm 41 which meshes with a worm gear 42 secured to a horizontal shaft 43 journalled in bearings 44 formed in the support housing 34 (Fig. 2). Shaft 43 carries a bevel gear 45 which meshes with a similar gear 46 carried on the lower extremity of a vertical shaft 47 journalled in a bearing 48 formed in a bracket 49 projected from the casing 21 (see also Fig. 3).

A Geneva arm 51 is keyed to the upper end of'shaft 47 and carries a Geneva roller 52 operating during the moving period of the Geneva mechanism within slots 53 formed in a Geneva wheel 54 keyed to the lower exthe upper surface of table 23, the turret be ing provided with a series of vertical walled can receiving pockets 58. Continual rotation of shaft 47 through the described Geneva mechanism causes a step by step rotation of the turret 57 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1.

Shaft 43 also carries a spur gear 59 which meshes with a similar gear 61 carried by a cam shaft 62 mounted in bearings 63 formed in the support housing 34 (Figs. 2 and 3) A sprocket wheel 64 is secured to one extremity of the cam shaft 62 and forms a part of a chain drive comprising a link chain 65 operating over the sprocket 64 and at its opposite end of travel over a sprocket 66 carried on a stub shaft 67 rotating within a bearing 68 formed on a bracket 69 projected from a lower level section 7 O of the table 23.

Cans A with covers loosely applied are brought into the apparatus upon a conveyor belt'7l operating at its inner end of travel over a pulley 72 secured to the stub shaft 67 and at its outer end of travel over any suitable idler pulley-which may or may not be a part of an independent machine. The cans A are brought by, the belt 71 along a passageway 7 3 formed within the section of the table 23, guide rails 74 formed in the table constituting side walls for the passageway. The can A is moved by the belt into engagement with a stop bar 75 mounted upon the surface of the table 23 (see Fig. 1). The continuously moving belt slides beneath the can A after the latter has reached its position against the bar 75.

Can A is then moved at right angles to its former line of travel by feeding devices comprising a slide 76 sliding over section 70 of table 23, the slide carrying a block 77 moving within a slot formed in section70, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The block 77 is pivotally connected by means of link 78 to the up per end of lever 79 moving about a pivot pin 81 carried by a bracket 82 projected from the support housing 34.

The lever 79 is moved back and forth by means of a mechanism comprising a bevel gear 83 secured to one end of shaft 43 (Fig. 2) meshing with a gear 84 secured to a short shaft 85 carried in a bracket 86 formed on the housing 34, the opposite end of the shaft carrying a crank arm 87 which in turn carries a crank pin 88 operatingin a slot 89 formed in the lever 79, a collar91 secured to the pin 88 preventing displacement of the latterrduring rotation of the arm 87. By this described mechanism, continuous rotation of the arm 87 causes the pin 88 carried thereby to move in a circular path of travel, and by means of the slot 89 in the lever 79 the latter is reciprocated about its pivot 81 to move the slide 76 back and forth over the surface of the table 23. p

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the slide 76 upon movement to the right engages the positioned can A and moves it through a passageway 92 formed between the spaced walls of the section 70 and the table 23 and posia bearing 95 carried by the table 23. The

lower extremity of shaft 94 carries a block 96 which rotatably supports a roller 97 adapted to engage the peripheral surface of a cam 98 secured to the cam shaft 62. A coil spring 99 encircles the lower end of shaft 94 and is interposed between the bearing 95 and block 96 and insures constant engagement of roller 97 with the cam 98. A feather 101.carried by shaft 94 and sliding within a feather-way formed in bearing 95 insures proper alignment of roller 97 relative toits cam 98 and prevents rotation of shaft 94 and plate 93 about their axes.

The mechanism just described constitutes the can feed lifting device for positioning a can A into a pocket of the turret 57. With the turret 57 at rest and a pocket 58 held in axial alignment with the feed lifting plate 93, the can positioned thereon is raised with the raising of the shaft 94 by means of the cam action just described. During this lifting movement, the can and plate are lifted through an opening formed in the surface of the table 23 under the pocket 58 of the turret 57. Fig. 3 illustrates the final raised position of plate 93 wherein can A is fully positioned within a pocket 58.

With the plate 93 in raised position, and

,the can A positioned in the pocket 58, the

turret 57 is moved about its axis 55 and the can within the pocket is slid over the upper surface of table 23.- After movement and rest of the turret and the moving of the can carried thereby through two idle stations, the same is brought to rest at the seaming station.

The can A carried in the pocket 58 as it is positioned at the sgaming station is moved onto the upper surface of a lifting plate'102 which is part of a can lifting device. At such time the upper surface of the plate 102 is in alignment with the upper surface of the table 23. Plate 102 is secured to the upper end of a sliding shaft 103 moving within a bearing 104 constituting a part of a casing to be hereinafter described. A feather 105 carried by the shaft 103 and sliding within a featherway formed within sleeve bearing 104 preventsi'otation of the shaft and the plate about their axes. The lower end of shaft 103 is secured to a block 106 which carries a cam following roller 107 engaging the peripheral surface of a cam 108 secured to the cam shaft 62. A coil spring 109 encircles a lower end of shaft 103 and is interposed between a part connected with the bearing 104 and the block 106 and insures constant engagement of the roller 107 with cam 108.

The seaming mechanism, indicated in a general way by the numeral 111, is positioned in axial alignment with plate 102, this mechanism being of any usual or preferred construction and comprising in part a chuck 112 and seaming roller 113. A casing 114 surroundsthe seaming'mechanism and encloses a vacuum chamber 115 and is slidably mounted at 116 on the vertical shaft 32. A stuffing gland 117 surrounds shaft 32 and cooperates with the bearing 116 to prevent air leakage along the shaft for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

A casing cover 118 is secured by bolts 119 to the upper surface of casing 114, the cover also having sliding connection on shaft 32. A stufling gland 121 is providedforengagement with the cover 118 and encircles the upper reduced portion of shaft 32 and prevents air leakage about the shaft.

' The seaming mechanism 111 is carried by and, rotates with a shaft 122 held in a boss 123 formed in the cover118,lock-nuts 124 threaded upon the upper end of shaft 122 holding the same in place. A cap 125 secured by bolts 126 to the cover 118 closes the upper part of the same and gasket member 127 is interposed between the cap and cover to form an hermetic joint. The seaming mechanism 111 may be rotated-by means of gears 128 and 129 secured respectively to casing 114 and shaft 32. The face of the teeth on gear To permit easylifting movement of the casing 114, the same is adapted to slide bver parts of the column 36 and for this purpose extended pads132 and 133 are provided in one wall of casing 114 and cover 118 and these engage and move over the planed surfaces 134 and 135 formed in one face of the column 36. Casing 114 and parts carried thereby are /raised and lowered and are slid along shaft 32 and against the column 36 by means of a cam control device, illustrated in Fig. 3.

This comprises. a sleeve 136 sliding along shaft 32 and within a bearing 137 formed in the table 23. The-upper end of sleeve 136 engages the bearing 116 of casing 114 with prevents movement of the sleeve about its axis but insures engagement between the 'bearing 116 and the sleeve 136. The lower end of the sleeve 136 is extended into a forked foot 139 which carries cam following rollers 141 adapted to rest on the upper surface of a cam 142 keyed to shaft 32, the cam being supported by the bearing 37. Cam 142 is formed with a bevel gear face 143 which meshes with a bevel gear 144 carried on one extremity of the cam shaft 62. By means of this construction, rotation of shaft 62 rotates the cam 142 and causes its cam surface to move beneath the supporting rollers 141 of the sleeve 136. The contour of the cam surface is such as to raise the sleeve 136 and the casing 114 connected therewith in proper time with the other operations of the machine.

The casing 114 has a bottom wall 145 in which is formed an opening 146 in axial alignment and positioned directly beneath the chuck 112. The opening 146 is surrounded by a gasket member 147 carried within a groove formed in the wall 145 of the casing 114. As the sleeve 136 is lowered, the casing 114, by reason of its weight, is also lowered and the annular gasket member 147 seats upon the upper surface of the turret 57 providing an hermetic joint between the casing 114 and the turret 57. During this.

action of clamping together the casing 114 and the turret 57, other devices are operating to clamp in a similar manner a secondary casing to the under surface of turret 57.

The secondary casing 148 is secured to the bearing 104 and surrounds a chamber 149 in which the plate 102 rests when in lowered or can receiving position. The casing 148 carries an annular gasket member 151 which is secured within a slot formed in the upper surface of the casing. The lower end of the bearing 104 carries a stufling boX 152 which encircles the shaft 103 and forms an air-tight connection between the bearing 104 and this shaft. 1

The mechanism for raising and lowering casing 148 in cooperation with the raising and lowering of casing 114 comprisesa lever 153 pivoted at 154 to a bracket 155 projected from the table 23. One end of lever 153 is formed as a yoke 156 which partially surrounds the sleeve 136, the outer extremity of the yoke being slotted for engagement with pins 157 carried by sleeve 136. The opposite end of lever 153 is formed in a similar manner, a slotted yoke extremity 158 engagsubstantial part of the air within the chamber is withdrawn through the pipe 131 to create a vacuous or rarefied atmosphere and in this atmosphere the can is sealed. Any usual or preferred mechanism may be used for creating this vacuum in proper timed relation to the, operating parts of the machine and it is thought further illustration is unnecessary for an understanding of the present invention.

After the cover has been seamed to the can A in the rarefied atmosphere of the vacuum chamber. the same is again positioned within the turret pocket 58 with the lowering of plate 102. The turret 57 at the same time is unclamped by movement of the respective casings 114 and 148 as just described, and on its next step rotation, the can is brought into alignment with a discharge opening 161 (Fig. 1) cut through the table 23. The can thereupon falls into a discharge chute 162' provided with guide rails 163. A discharge belt 164 moves over the surface of the discharge chute 162 and the can falls upon the upper surface of the same. Discharge belt 164 passes through suitable openings 165 formed in casing 21 and travels over a pulley 166 mounted on a horizontal shaft 167 carried by bearings 168 formed in a bracket 169 projected from the table 23 (see Fig. 4). Shaft 167 also carries a sprocket 171 over which engages a link chain 172 which passes over a sprocket 173 secured to cam shaft 62 (see also Figs. 2 and 3).

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the Spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form here- .inbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for vacuumizing and sealing containers, the combination of a casing enclosing a vacuum chamber and having an opening communicating with said chamber, seaming mechanism in said chamber, conveying mechanism adjacent said chamber for delivering cans thereto, and clamping means movable towards and from the underside of said conveying mechanism and casing for clamping together the conveying mechanism and casing to hermetically seal the said opening throughout the vacuumizing and sealing operation.

2. In an apparatus for vacuumizing and sealing containers, the combination of a casing enclosing a vacuum chamber and having an opening communicating with said chamber, seaming mechanism in said chamber, conveying mechanism adjacent said chamber for delivering cans thereto, and clamping means movable towards and from the underside of said conveying mechanism and casing for clamping together the conveying mechanism and casing to hermetically seal the said opening throughout the vacuumizing. and sealing operation, said means also unclamping the same after the vacuumizing and sealing operations are completed.

3. An apparatus for closing containers in vacuum, comprising in combination, a casing, seaming mechanism arranged in said casing, a primary vacuum chamber in said casing and having an opening therein, conveying mechanism adjacent said chamber for delivering cans thereto, including a device having a plurality of can receiving pockets, a casing enclosing asecondary vacuum chamoer and also having an opening therein, a can lifting device arranged in said casing and means for hermetically closing said openings and connecting the two vacuum chambers with a said can receiving pocket when the can lifting devicepresents a can resting in the said pocket to said seaming mechanism.

4. In an apparatus for vacuumizing and sealing containers, the combination of a cas ing enclosing a primary vacuum chamber and having an opening therein, seaming mechanism in said chamber, a casing enclosing a secondaryvacuum chamber. and also having an opening therein, conveying mechanism operating between said casings for delivering cans to the primary vacuum chamher, and means for clamping-together the conveying mechanism and the casings to hermetically sealsaid openings during the vacuumizing and sealing operations.

5. In an apparat-us for vacuumizing and sealing containers, the combination of a casing enclosing a primary vacuum chamber and having an opening therein, seaming mechanism in said chamber. acasing enclossealing containers, the combination of 2. casing enclosing a vacuum chamber and having an opening therein, seamin mechanism in said chamber, conveying mec anism beneath said chamber for delivering cans thereto including a rotary turret having vertical openings formed therein and'constituting can receiving pockets, devices for positioning a j said pocket in axial alignment with the opening of the casing of the vacuum chamber, and clamping means for hermetically connecting the vacuum chamber and the said pocket during the vacuumizing and sealing operations. 7. In an apparatus for vacuumlzing and sealing containers, the combination of a casing enclosing a vacuum chamber and having an opening therein, seaming mechanism in said chamber, conveying mechanism beneath said chamber for delivering cans thereto including a rotary turret having vertical openings formed therein and constituting can receiving pockets, feeding devices for lifting a'can into a said receiving pocket, devices for positioning the pocket in axial alignment with the opening of the casing of the vacuum chamber, and clamping means for clamping against the upper and lower surfaces of the turret adjacent to and surrounding said aligned pocket for hermatically connecting the vacuum chamber and the pocket during the vacuumizing and sealing operations.

8. An apparatus for closing containers in vacuum, comprising a casin having a vacuum chamber provided with an opening, a

seaming mechanism arranged in said casing,

a rotating conveyor mounted adjacent to and beneath said opening and adapted to position containers in alignment therewith, a can lifting device positioned in alignment with said opening and beneath the rotating conveyor, actuating instrumentalities for causing the can lifting device to raise a positioned can from the rotating conveyor into the chamber casing opening and to the seaming mechanism, and clamping means for hermetically closing the opening of the casing of the vacuum chamber during the seaming of the container.

JAMES A. GRAY.

ing a'secondary vacuum chamber and also having an opening therein, conveying mechanism operating between said casings for delivering cans to the primary vacuum chamber, and means for clamping together the 0 conveying mechanism and the casings to hermetically seal said openings during the vac uumizir. and sealing operation, said means also unclamping the same after the vacuumizing and sealing operations are completed.

6.In an apparatus for vacuumizingand lie 

